It might be hard to imagine, but at one time,
Detroit was viewed as one of the most glamourous and exquisite cities in the world.
Hi everyone, Ken here, today we are exploring the Hecker House in Detroit, Michigan. Make sure
to hit that subscribe button so you never miss an exciting episode of "ThisHouse"
In 1846, Frank J. Hecker was born into a middle-class Michigan family. His parents
wanted to see him succeed at life, so they uprooted the family and moved to St. Louis,
Missouri which had some of the best schools at the time.
Just as he was about to enter college, the American Civil War broke out and he enlisted
with the Union Army. This gave him invaluable life experience as he learned the ins and outs
of land surveying and what would later be called supply chain management. Just after the war, he
was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad to oversee the construction of a new line through Indiana.
At no fault of his own, the project failed, but he had done everything in his power in an
attempt to salvage the project. The higher ups at the Union Pacific Railroad were so impressed
by his resourcefulness that they invited Frank to join them in managing the company from Detroit,
Michigan. By 1884, he was named the president of the Union Pacific Railroad.
From the very top of the industry, Frank was able to identify the a gap in the market.
He teemed up with his long time friend, Charles Lang Freer to found what would
become the Peninsular Car Company, manufacturing custom train cars for individuals and companies.
Even though being the president of a rail company made Frank rich, it wasn’t until
he founded his own manufacturing company that he became one of the wealthiest men in the Midwest.
In 1888, Frank set out to build his dream house.
He purchased a premier lot at the corner of Ferry and Woodward in Detroit and hired Detroit based
Architects Scott, Kamper, and Scott to design for him an imposing mansion in the chateauesque style.
The 21,000 square foot limestone palace was flanked by 3 story towers and wrapped in a
colonnaded loggia. Each window surround was carved from stone and boasted elaborate relief work.
No surface was left unadorned from hand sculpted balustrade to distinctive copper
finials exaggerating the height of the already steeply pitched roof.
Approaching the home from the street, you would make your way towards the front
door below an elaborate entablature. Here you would find the entrance encircled by
stone relief work depicting sea shells, framing the wrought iron double doors.
Entering the home, you would arrive in the vestibule,
passing through a colonnade to arrive in the great hall.
This space was finished out with floor to ceiling wood paneling and flanked by arcades
concealing a laurel motif in their arches below a hand stenciled, coffered ceiling.
To the side, the grand stairs gently rose to the second floor
with their balustrade imitating the arcade on a miniature scale.
To one side of the great hall, the dining room rounded out with curved wall paneling below a low
profile dome, decorated with gilded plaster work radiating from its center. Tucked away
to the side of the dining room, we will find the tea room set within the limestone tower.
To the other side, the music room, also known as the “White and Gold Room” was
finished out with white painted wall panels adorned with gold leaf on each raised detail.
The fireplace was crafted from Nubian marble and onyx which glowed as flames flickered in
the hearth. The parquet floors continued into the parlor with carrying the same themes of
white and gold finished on the walls and broken up with damask wallpaper in each paneled section.
Above us, on the ceiling, a blue and white mural of a cloudy sky was contained withing a gilded
cartouche in which a gold leafed plaster medallion surrounded electric light bulbs.
Making our way back across the great hall, we will find the library with an elaborate frieze running
below the coffered ceiling. To one side of the floor to ceiling mahogany fireplace, we will find
built in, glass paned book cases containing Frank’s antique and rare book collection.
Though, not all the rooms were as ornate,
the Billiards room offered a retreat from the busy patterns of the public rooms with only
the decorative mantel and refined cornice to break up the otherwise blank walls.
While we make our way towards the more private end of the house,
we will find the back staircase cozied up to an inglenook. Here we will make our way upstairs.
Directly above the dining room, we will find Frank’s daughter’s room decorated with light,
delicate furniture. Her room opens into the tower which she used as a play room.
Opposite of this room, we will find Frank’s bedroom decorated with dark,
heavy furniture below a hand stenciled cornice and ceiling. Attached to his room,
in the tower opposite his daughter, the sitting room allowed for a quiet retreat.
As we continue the story, we will see more photos of the house. Frank hosted large
parties in the mansion, even entertaining 2 US Presidents for dinners and balls.
In 1927, he unexpectedly passed away. The family held onto the house through the great depression
in the hopes that Detroit would recover, but as the city continued to decline, they gave up their
hope and sold the house in 1947. It went on to be used by the Smiley Brothers Music Company who
converted the mansion into a sales office and rehearsal space. During this time, significant
changes were made to the interior, most of which were reversed by the following owners,
a law firm which purchased the house around 1990. They painstakingly restored the house both
inside and out before selling it to Wayne State University to be used as the Tierney Alumni House.
Which room was your favorite? Let me know down below in the comments section. And while you’re
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